What we’re reading: Another impending shutdown

We’re back and we’re reading
– everything from “Fox News” to the “Washington Post.” We’re trying to help you
keep up with the rapid pace of politics and everyday news. Today, we’ve
got a potential second government shutdown, teachers going on strike, and
parents suing their children.

Negotiations hit snag as shutdown deadline
approaches

Border security negotiations have stalled and another government shutdown is in sight, according to the Associated Press.

Neither political party can agree on a budget for President Trump’s border wall, but there is also disagreement on the detainment of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Democrats want ICE to focus
solely on dangerous immigrants and limit the number of illegal immigrants
allowed to be held by ICE. Republicans want no limits on the types or numbers
of immigrants.

The parties have until Feb.
15 to make a deal.

Minnesota representative’s tweets condemned by
both parties

A Fox News report stated that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) received criticism from both Republicans and Democrats after posting tweets accusing a lobbying group of paying Congress members to support Israel.

These tweets came in response to reports that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) threatened to take action against Omar for alleged anti-Semitic comments.

Former first daughter Chelsea
Clinton was among Democrats condemning Omar’s actions, tweeting: “We should
expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to
not traffic in anti-Semitism.”

Omar later responded to
Clinton and said she would be happy to talk about what to do moving forward.

Denver Public Schools teachers to go on strike today

For the first time in 25 years, Denver Public Schools teachers are going on strike Monday, according to a report by ABC News.

For the last 15 months, the
Denver Classroom Teachers Association and the Denver Public Schools District
for the Professional Compensation System for Teachers have been having ongoing
negotiations on how to improve the current pay scale for teachers.

Denver schools will remain
open during the strike, though early childhood education classes will be
cancelled.

Teachers who strike could have their salaries withheld by the district, and may not receive unemployment benefits either.

Virginia Lt. Gov. faced possible impeachment

Virginia lawmakers thought about pursuing impeachment of Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, but according to the Associated Press, those talks have slowed.

Fairfax has recently been
accused by two women of sexual assault in the 2000s, and experts said an
impeachment would be a first for Virginia.

While impeachment was initially pursued by some lawmakers, it was unlikely the process would get far since the state Legislature is set to convene soon.

Lawmakers have also said Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring should step down from their roles after scandals of racist past behavior arose.

Northam told CBS he will not
step down, nor will he terminate Fairfax or Herring.

Artificial intelligence initiative to be launched
Monday

According to a report by CNN, President Trump is likely to sign an Executive Order to launch the American Artificial Intelligence initiative on Monday.

The goal of the initiative is
to strengthen the American leadership in AI.

A senior administration
official said the initiative is to “ensure AI continues to be fueled by
American ingenuity, reflects American values and is applied for the benefit of
American values.”

The initiative addresses the
president’s call for “investments in the cutting edge industries of the future”
during his State of the Union.

Parents suing their son for support

According to the BBC, a father in Bangladesh is suing his son for not supporting him after getting married and moving out.

The father, Abu Taher, said that after raising his son and daughter and retiring with little money, his son – now a banker – has not supported him at all.

The report said that it is a
cultural norm for children to provide for their parents when they grow up.

The son has agreed to pay his father 10,000 taka ($119) each month, and the father will retract the case if his son keeps paying.

That’s all we have for today. Check back tomorrow for more.